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Testament of Judah

Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs

About this book
Chapter 25

1 After this Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will rise to life, and my brothers and I will be heads of the tribes of Israel:⁠ Levi first, I second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, Simeon fifth, Issachar sixth, and so on all in order. 2 The Lord blessed Levi; the Angel of the Presence blessed me; the powers of glory blessed Simeon; heaven blessed Reuben; the earth blessed Issachar; the sea blessed Zebulun; the mountains blessed Joseph; the tabernacle blessed Benjamin; the lights of heaven blessed Dan; Eden blessed Naphtali; the sun blessed Gad; and the moon blessed Asher. 3 You will be the people of the Lord and speak one language, and the spirit of dishonesty of Beliar will no longer be there, for he will be thrown into the fire forever. 4 Those who died in grief will rise in joy, those who were poor for the Lord's sake will be made rich, and those who were put to death for the Lord's sake will awake to life.⁠ 5 The deer of Jacob will run with joy, the eagles of Israel will fly with gladness, and all the people will glorify the Lord forever.

Texts in conversation

Compare Testament of Judah 25:1 and Matthew 22:32

Pseudepigrapha, Testaments · New Testament

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Summary

In Matthew 22, Jesus places Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the center of future resurrection, demonstrating continuity with Jewish traditions, such as in the Testament of Judah, that identified resurrection with the patriarchs.

Passages

Testament of Judah 25:1

Pseudepigrapha, Testaments · Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
1 After this Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will rise to life, and my brothers and I will be heads of the tribes of Israel: Levi first, I second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, Simeon fifth, Issachar sixth, and so on all in order. 2 The Lord blessed Levi; the Angel of the Presence blessed me; the powers of glory blessed Simeon; heaven blessed Reuben; the earth blessed Issachar; the sea blessed Zebulun; the mountains blessed Joseph; the tabernacle blessed Benjamin; the lights of heaven blessed Dan; Eden blessed Naphtali; the sun blessed Gad; and the moon blessed Asher. 3 You will be the people of the Lord and speak one language, and the spirit of dishonesty of Beliar will no longer be there, for he will be thrown into the fire forever.
100 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Testament of Judah

Matthew 22:32

New Testament
30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching. 34 Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together.
70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

References

"... The eschatological nature of this banquet is apparent from the inclusion of Israel’s great patriarchs of old, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They symbolize all those who remained faithful to God and have consequently been resurrected to new life. (The implication is spelled out in passages like Testament of Judah 25:1) But, who are the “many” coming from east and west to partake in the banquet? ..."
Brian Han Gregg, “The Historical Jesus and the Final Judgment Sayings in Q” (PhD diss., University of Notre Dame, 2005), 300.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Testament of Judah 25:1 and Matthew 22:32

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